So their best WR is gone, their starting safety is likely gone, and 3 of their 4 starting LBs from the playoffs/Super Bowl are gone. I could see them taking a serious step back this year.

Yes, they will regress next year, possibly significantly unless the guys Newsome have drafted are able to step up. Even then they can't replace what they lost. The wisdom amongst the talking heads is that the Ravens got their Lombardi last year and are happy. If it takes them a few years to get back there again, so be it.

Word is now that the Ravens are planning to cut Bernard Pollard as well. If this keeps up, my gut is telling me the Ravens will probably miss the playoffs next season and struggle to reach .500. I know Flacco played well in the playoffs, but I just don't think he can carry them by himself.

Word is now that the Ravens are planning to cut Bernard Pollard as well. If this keeps up, my gut is telling me the Ravens will probably miss the playoffs next season and struggle to reach .500. I know Flacco played well in the playoffs, but I just don't think he can carry them by himself.

Bill Simmons and the rest of the Patriot nation will be glad that Pollard is gone.

Bill Simmons and the rest of the Patriot nation will be glad that Pollard is gone.

Also, Reggie Bush just signed with the Lions. :dodgy:

The Lions desperately need a running back, but is Bush the guy?Since Barry Sanders retired in 99 they have had 3 1000 yard rushers. 2 of them were James Stewart.

What is up with that?

The AFC North is so weird. The Steelers are on the downslide, the Ravens might be on the downslide, you don't know what to make of the Bengals. They had back to back winning seasons for the first time under Marvin Lewis but they always seem on the verge of collapse. Then there are the Browns who are well the Browns. The Ravens might still have a chance with this division.

So their best WR is gone, their starting safety is likely gone, and 3 of their 4 starting LBs from the playoffs/Super Bowl are gone. I could see them taking a serious step back this year.

Yep. Flacco has never carried the Ravens in the regular season. It was always the running game and defense that allowed the Ravens to make the playoffs. Flacco's regular seasons numbers are so very average.

said:

The Lions desperately need a running back, but is Bush the guy?Since Barry Sanders retired in 99 they have had 3 1000 yard rushers. 2 of them were James Stewart.

What is up with that?

The AFC North is so weird. The Steelers are on the downslide, the Ravens might be on the downslide, you don't know what to make of the Bengals. They had back to back winning seasons for the first time under Marvin Lewis but they always seem on the verge of collapse. Then there are the Browns who are well the Browns. The Ravens might still have a chance with this division.

Aside from Brandon Weeden I like the way the Browns have drafted the last couple of years. They have a solid defense which I think got better by adding Kruger. If they can find a way to score a few more points offensively they could make a run this year. As you said it's always seems like the Bengals are on right on the edge of collapsing.